h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Human Race is a truly gulable thing isn't it? I can say this because I am one - a human that is. I also say this because there are some amongst us that are very clever at manipulating the Human mind. They are called 'marketing executives'.

Has anyone noticed how you buy things on an impulse? For example, you go into a shop for a drink, and come out with thirty bottles of shampoo because there was a good offer on that brand, despite it causing severe pain to the lower left eyelid. Clever tools like playing music in a record shop makes you want to buy it, and placing new products on the counter where you pay causes you to notice them. And what is this with bringing out new versions of old chocolate bars? I mean, chunky KitKats? Toffee Crisp clusters? Dairy Milk Quick? How gulable do these people think the general public are?

Obviously the answer is 'very', seeing as so many people seem to be buying into it.

This marketing thing is going mad. A few years ago we had loads of factories and shipyards making loads of lovely shiny and not-so-shiny but ever so vital bits and bobs. Then, recently, the economy shifted away from making stuff towards the 'service industry' where we sit at desks working out which shiny things to buy/clean/etc.
Now all the companies seem to do is employ bigger and bigger marketing teams that work out how to sell this nebulous crap.
Go into any workplace today and try and spot someone actually doing something worthwhile.
Scary isn't it! Anyway, we're surrounded by bloody marketing to the point that it becomes part of the furniture.
Can you see that animated GIF at the top of this page?
Makes me want to scream'LOOK, I HAVEN'T GOT AN APPLE MAC!'

TWF

Calm down dear.

There are two ways of dealing with this problem: either ignore it, or go and buy an apple mac.

what would people do all day if they didn't come into their offices to spend all day browsing the internet, bandying with the receptioist/that spunky guy from marketing, taking extended lunchbreaks, playing with the photocopier, shredding the evidence, making personal phonecalls, using the bathroom, going to the watercooler, using the bathroom again. . .

now that machines do all our real work, we have to invent fake jobs to convince ourselves we are contributing to society.
actually we froods who research for h2g2 KNOW we are contributing a great deal and are therefore immune to these insecurities!!